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Look! We're A Book!

  • I Hate People! by Jonathan Littman & Marc Hershon is published by the good folks at Little, Brown in New York. The elements we've started blogging about here and a whole lot more can be found between the covers.

    Click on the Amazon link to buy or, if you want a taste, click over to Barnes & Noble and check out Chapter One for FREE!!!


    Media Contact:
    Sarah J. Murphy
    Little, Brown and Company
    (212) 364-1350
    E-mail: sarah.murphy@hbgusa.com

    Speaking Inquiries:
    Tom Nielssen
    The BrightSightGroup
    (609) 924-3060
    E-mail: tom@brightsightgroup.com

    TOPIC: The I Hate People! Insight Roundup: Ten People You Don't Want To Be

What Reviewers Are Saying

  • National Post, Canada
    "In a wry, counterintuitive twist on the workplace self-help book, the authors propose to help the reader expertly identify and neutralize the 'corporate oafs' who block the path to career satisfaction and creative independence. The rejected culture of phony niceness, Littman and Hershon claim, has led the business world astray -- and only the path of 'people hating' can get things back on track."
  • Wall Street Journal
    "I Hate People! is a bracing antidote to the management bromide that "there is no 'i' in 'team.' True enough, Messrs. Hershon and Littman would say -- but if you move things around a bit, there is a 'me.'"
  • Business Week
    "It is both a self-help manual for people hoping to not only keep their jobs during the recession, but also possibly advance, as well as a taxonomy of office workers for managers, to help them make better staffing and team-building decisions. But it also is about innovation."
  • Bob Sutton of "The No Asshole Rule"
    "This is the rare book that is clever and funny -- as you laugh along with Jonathan and Marc, you realize that their analysis and solutions are actually deeper and more useful than the piles of management books out there that take themselves far more seriously..."
  • Scoffery.com
    "I must say that I have just finished reading the best corporate business book in my life."
  • Publishers Weekly
    "Amusing and filled with entertaining examples of antisocial geeks who made good..."

Audio Hate Takes

  • Radio Shows & Podcasts
    Here is the most recent appearance by Jonathan and Marc, talking about I Hate People!
  • Jon & Marc on NPR's TechNation with Moira Gunn

    Want to hear more? You can check out some of their other appearance by clicking over to the Audio Hate Takes page

  • And if you'd prefer to listen to I Hate People! rather than read it, download the Gildan Media audiobook edition, which is available for download from Audible.com.

    We even team up as your readers in this offering! Here's a sample from the audiobook...

    During the recording sessions we did for the audiobook edition of I Hate People!, we had a couple of funny outtakes that came up that we thought we'd share. Take a listen...

  • Outtake #1
  • Outtake #2

Tell Us Your Stories!

  • Click here to share your tales of workplace woe...
    Got someone who gets your goat? It can be a co-worker, a boss, an employee or maybe a person on your commute that makes your blood boil and want to shout "I hate people!" Whatever your story, we'd like to read it and, if it's truly hate-worthy, we'll post it up here on the front page AND send you a free copy of "I Hate People!"

Know-It-None, Professional Edition

  • I call her the “Teflon Cell Tower”. Every day, she runs hither and yon, like a baby elephant, each meeting more critical than the next. Whatever goes in her ears at one meeting is transmitted out of her mouth at the next, regardless of it’s relationship to the subject matter. Sadly, nothing actually sticks in her brain. Or to her hands, for that matter.

    Consequently, her colleagues are tortured by the endless reiteration of known truths and obvious facts sprinkled with trite consulting buzzwords and business-speak. For her, they are profound thoughts for pressing issues. They may have been someone else's thoughts long ago,but that has no bearing here.

    If her established patter is derailed by a question or a comment, the verbal tap dancing can last for 20 minutes or more until she restores the correct broadcast frequency.

    Given what I have witnessed in the last 15 years, her future is secure – she does no real work, has no real expertise and agrees with everything.

    TCT is no longer my problem. After a long, distinguished career, I had enough FU money to liberate myself when this re-assignment was announced. I love being free from the people I hate, but I do miss hating them on a daily face-to-face basis.

    — FreeAtLast

Hate Bites

  • "I Hate People! has a lot to teach you about office life, so if you hate your job, need help producing better work in a crappy environment or just genuinely hate people, then this book is for you. In fact, I’m going to read it again. Why? Because I hate people that much."
    — Paigel
  • "Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon have created a masterpiece of office human relations."
    — Carpe Factum
  • "Carol over at Carol’s Notebook has a copy of I Hate People. This awesomely titled book was written by Marc Hershon and Jonathan Littman, and it’ll teach you how to be …. me."

    — West of Mars blog

  • "I wanted you to know it is one of the best promotional packages I've ever received. I spent 20 years in the music business, including running Disney's Hollywood Records, and over the years put together thousands of promo packages with the goal of making them stand out. The "I Hate People" package puts pretty much everything I've done to shame. Outstanding!"

    — Reviewer (name withheld)

  • "Your book on hating people is hilarious; I had no idea I'd inspired you so much, so negatively."

    — Internet Executive

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    Finding Hate Elsewhere

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    July 13, 2011

    Is Your Future Boss Horrible? A 10 Point Reference Check

    The film Horrible Bosses opened on July 8th.  The basic plot, as I understand it, is that three guys who hate their bosses, played by Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis, conspire to murder them.  I don't recommend that way of dealing with a bosshole, and have been suggesting more constructive approaches (see this ABC interview).
    As part of the film's release, I have been getting quite a few media calls about bosses. This reminded me of a checklist that I worked on with the folks at LinkedIn and Guy Kawasaki a few years back to help  assesses if a prospective boss is likely to be an asshole.  The list builds on the ideas in The No Asshole Rule and some ideas that appeared in Good Boss, Bad Boss.   

    via bobsutton.typepad.com

    Friend of Hate Bob Sutton scores again with his 10-point checklist of what makes for a miserable boss.

    Posted at 01:50 PM |

    Comments

    Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

    freeatlast

    I call her the “Teflon Cell Tower”. Every day, she runs hither and yon, like a baby elephant, each meeting more critical than the next. Whatever goes in her ears at one meeting is transmitted out of her mouth at the next, regardless of it’s relationship to the subject matter. Sadly, nothing actually sticks in her brain. Or to her hands, for that matter.

    Consequently, her colleagues are tortured by the endless reiteration of known truths and obvious facts sprinkled with trite consulting buzzwords and business-speak. For her, they are profound thoughts for pressing issues. They may have been someone else's thoughts long ago,but that has no bearing here.

    If her established patter is derailed by a question or a comment, the verbal tap dancing can last for 20 minutes or more until she restores the correct broadcast frequency.

    Given what I have witnessed in the last 15 years, her future is secure – she does no real work, has no real expertise and agrees with everything.

    TCT is no longer my problem. After a long, distinguished career, I had enough FU money to liberate myself when this re-assignment was announced. I love being free from the people I hate, but I do miss hating them on a daily face-to-face basis.

    Posted by: freeatlast | July 22, 2011 at 02:02 PM

    hershco

    FreeAtLast,

    Nicely related story of a type of Know-It-None that way too many of us have had to deal at work.

    Glad to hear that you found your freedom! Don't lose touch with the Hate, however, or you might find yourself tempted to jump back into the morass!

    Cheers,
    Marc

    Posted by: hershco | July 22, 2011 at 02:13 PM

    freeatlast

    Marc, my former assistant follows an HR related blog and there is a thread on incompetent leaders http://retention-engagement.hr.toolbox.com/groups/strategy-administration/retention-engagement/incompetent-leaders-4319791. It's no surprise to any of us that bad bosses and incompetent leadership is a global phenomena (unless all the commenters actually DO work for my ex-employer - which is possible!). I commented and suggested IHP as a life saving device until everyone can find better situations, if they actually exist. Is it just me, or are corporations starting to send like legitimized organized crime? Rich psychopaths at the helm, frightened victims in their cubicles?? Don't even get me started on Washington!

    Posted by: freeatlast | July 28, 2011 at 08:35 AM

    Account Deleted

    Pushovers are afraid of confrontation & cowards are passive aggressive...That's what my favorite YouTuber thinks. Check out his video-- I'm sure you can relate to him. http://youtu.be/zvXXsgMgxiI

    Posted by: Account Deleted | October 09, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    The comments to this entry are closed.

    Author Appearances

    • We'll add dates & locations as they come in! (All times Pacific unless otherwise noted.)
    • VIDEO TIDBITS
      Click on the thumbnails for access!

      Jonathan and Marc were at Kepler's Bookstore in Menlo Park, CA.

      Jonathan and Marc woke up early enough one recent morning to make it on CNBC's Squawk Box. Check it out!

      Marc paid a visit to CNN's American Morning show. Here's how it went:

      Vote for your favorite in the Sandwich Man Dance Off and maybe win a free copy of I Hate People!

      Watch the authors try to bring the Hate to Venice Beach in California:

      The authors find hate on the mean streets of New York:

    Soloist Manifesto


    • Karl Marx had a manifesto. David Grossman of IBM had one when he wanted to wake up Big Blue to the next big thing - The Internet. Now there's a manifesto for you:
      Start the Soloist Journey: Become the Hero in the Face of The Ten Least Wanted
      What's really cool is that our Manifesto is up in a very nice place — Changethis.com, which encourages business authors, entrepreneurs and executives to "spread important ideas and change minds."
      Click the link above to get the PDF (and feel free to pass it along to friends, co-workers and even the boss.)

    Ensemble Box

    Do You Hate People?

    • Take our POP QUIZ to find out!



    Something For Nothing

    Bloggerific!

    • Here's some of the blogs where you can find excerpts and mentions of I Hate People!, as well as some original pieces we're writing.

      This should be under Twitteriffic but we don't have a section called that: a big thanks to Jerret Turner over at DMO Planner for proclaiming to the Twitterverse that IHP! is his favorite book in the last 10 years!; a tip o' the mouse to TJ McCue and his coverage of our Cubicle Evacuation Plan sign over on the shiftboard blog; thanks to a Twitter connection made recently with Paige Presley, we got to see her delightful review of our book; neat to see our book featured over on The Daily MBA, the brains behind which sent me a DM tweet saying he found it "Well written, funny and spot on."

    Hate Mate

    • Hate Mates wanted!
      Become a Hate Mate! Tell us in 50 words or so why you'd make a great Hate Mate to spread our I Hate People! message throughout the cubedom that is your office!
      If we like your take, we'll proclaim you one of our official Hate Mates and post your story here. Hate Mates will receive our "Trying To Be Productive" Pack, an autographed book and as many I Hate People! "Stay Out of My Cube!", "Do Not Disturb!" signs and bookmarks as you need to pass around the office to make your point.
      Click here to send us your pitch!

    Bulk Hate


    • If you're looking to order 25 or more copies of I Hate People!" for your company, upcoming conference or hate-in, we recommend 800ceoread.com for the best prices and service! Click on the link or contact Aaron Schleicher at 800-CEO-READ

    Hateware

    The Ten Least Wanted

    • In our book, we’ve selected and analyzed the ten most troublesome types of people, then fired out techniques for going over, under or through them. Such as Liar Liar, whose falsehoods can steer your career off course in no time flat:

      Click that little guy to jump over to our handy online guide to help spot the Ten Least Wanted in your office, featuring some of their common phrases...

    In The Office

    Order Today!

    • Click on the Barnes & Noble button to order your copy of I Hate People! today!

    ABOUT THIS BLOG

    • What's the philosophy of our blog? It's about having the boldness to create the attitude, space and time you need to stretch your career and expand your life. Taking that critical step toward becoming one of those happy souls who deftly works alone or collaborate with just a handful of other talented people…while artfully deflecting all the rest. Because while you can't change the people you hate -- you can stop them from dragging you down.

      As we break out your revealing first person accounts and surprising news and studies -- all in the context of our effective strategies for artful hating -- you'll discover that you're learning a kind of martial arts approach to coping with problem people. We're bringing the power of redirecting and avoiding the emotional blows dished out by bosses, co-workers and competitors. While you may need a lot of these people to get through your day, your career and your life...nobody said you have to like them.

      For more about where we're going with this blog, click on to The Hate Starts Here.

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